Based on reports of their respective well-roundedness, which is of course comedy at this point. Well-roundedness at 18 doesn't matter if you have zero drive (or lack a complete game yet are very instinctive). It's interesting how a Regina-based player like that slipped through their hands when that's where their head scout is based out of. Carlson was thought to be a mid-to-late first rounder that year...not really off the map.

Perhaps WSH looks to move up from 16 to 14 by adding their second. Either way two of Grigorenko, Faksa, Trouba, Maatta, Lindholm, Ceci & Girgensons seems possible (albeit with the first listed players increasingly only an option at 11). I'm a little wary of a telegraphed Maatta pick at 11 but at 16 he's a no-brainer.

I remember expecting Carlson to go in the mid-teens (based partly on McKenzie's ranking, IINM). When he was still on the board when the Flyers picked, I remember being sure they would take him. Then I was sure the Rags would take him, then the Devils, then the Ducks (may be getting my orders mixed up but you get the drift).

Then I remember the sense of dread I had when the Caps traded for the 2nd pick. He was on the board and we weren't going to take him, I just knew it.

Lol people weren't too happy with the Alzner pick at the time and now he's many peopke's favorite Dman it seems like and really just what we needed... And a good amount of hate on the Mojo pick at the time but IMO that's great value in the later part of the 1st round and IMO he will be a 60+ point guy for years to come, just needs to put on a few pounds.

Perhaps WSH looks to move up from 16 to 14 by adding their second. Either way two of Grigorenko, Faksa, Trouba, Maatta, Lindholm, Ceci & Girgensons seems possible (albeit with the first listed players increasingly only an option at 11). I'm a little wary of a telegraphed Maatta pick at 11 but at 16 he's a no-brainer.

I'd avoid Gaunce, Wilson, Skjei & Aberg.

If they pick Maatta at 11 with Grigorenko available I will absolutely bug. I mean, if they pick anyone other than Faksa there with Grigorenko still around I will.

...and why evaluating players based on their on-ice play alone isn't enough either. Teams need to know the person as well (and not just who their father was). Go down another round in that draft and there's Mestery too, another guy that quit.

Well OF COURSE all of us on this board knew who Carlson was and everything there was to know about him, lol. If you look through any prospect/pre draft threads it's obvious we're generally 2-3 steps ahead of GMs in terms of evaluating draft talent. I meant more in terms of NHL GMs being familiar enough with him to pick him in the 1st round over players from higher profile leagues. I'm not sure he would have gone before 30 if McPhee did not pick him in the 1st.

The mono supposedly happened in the playoffs toward the end of the second round. Maybe the WJC ankle injury explains the decline in production but then again he's not exactly a player that thrives primarily through pushing the pace to begin with.

Someone did an analysis, and his (Grink's) drop in production came on special teams. His ES production was more-or-less steady even when his overall production decline (before the playoff no-show, at least). Don't know what to make of that.

To be fair, that was before Komi became totally awful. I sorta get it, because Carlson's calling card at the time was how dominant he was physically compared to his peers. Kinda glosses over the offensive potential that he was showing even at the time (not to mention the skating) but it could be something of a hedge in case that was only due to the physical advantage. IINM that was the biggest risk associated with him as well.